Gyeonggi · Yangju · Ground Operations Command Dronebot Festival
🗓️ 2026.10.30 ~ 2026.11.01
The Gyeonggi · Yangju · Ground Operations Command Dronebot Festival is a coexistence festival of civilians, government, and the military. Jointly hosted by Gyeonggi-do, Yangju-si, and the Ground Operations Command, it will be held for three days from October 30 to November 1, 2026, at the Ganap-ri Airfield in Gwangjeok-myeon, Yangju-si.
The festival is grounded in the 「Ordinance on the Promotion and Support of the Drone Industry in Yangju-si」 and the 「Business Agreement for the Coexistence and Mutual Development of Civilians, Government, and Military at Ganap-ri Airfield」, and backed by a total project cost of 61.2 billion won. Its purpose is to establish a foundation for the drone industry, cultivate a representative festival for the western region, and promote balanced regional development.
For visitors, the event offers a rare look at advanced national defense capabilities and the future of the 4th Industrial Revolution in a single venue. Demonstrations of the Army’s dronebot combat system, exhibitions of USFK combat equipment, showcases by domestic and international advanced drone and robot companies, dronebot competitions, military cultural performances, and citizen experience programs span both worlds. The dronebot—the Army’s combined drone-and-robot concept—serves as the common thread, giving the festival a focus that distinguishes it from conventional drone expositions.
Main Programs
The main programs combine spectacle, ceremony, and competition:
- Opening and closing ceremonies
- Drone tactical demonstrations
- Army Aviation celebratory flight
- Civilian-military coexistence concert
- Drone light show
- Gyeonggi Province Governor · Ground Operations Commander’s Cup Dronebot Competition
The drone tactical demonstrations and the Army Aviation celebratory flight are the clearest draw for fans of military aviation, while the civilian-military coexistence concert and drone light show broaden the program beyond the purely technical. The Gyeonggi Province Governor · Ground Operations Commander’s Cup Dronebot Competition serves as the competitive centerpiece, with participants putting their systems to the test.
Side Programs
Away from the main stage, the side programs cover hardware, industry, and military tradition:
- Exhibition of USFK (M1 tank, etc.) and ROK Armed Forces (K-2 tank, etc.) combat equipment
- Product exhibitions of advanced domestic and international drone and robot companies
- Capital Defense Command MC Parade
- Special Combat Martial Arts and Army Honor Guard · Military Band demonstration performances
- Dronebot development seminar
The combat equipment exhibition puts modern armor within arm’s reach, the product exhibitions represent the civilian and commercial side of the drone and robot sector, and the Dronebot development seminar provides context on where the technology is headed. The Capital Defense Command MC Parade, special combat martial arts, and the Army Honor Guard and Military Band demonstration performances carry the ceremonial and cultural side of the event.
Consumer Participation Programs
The consumer programs are the most hands-on part of the festival:
- Riding experiences in KUH-1 Surion helicopters and K200A1 armored vehicles
- Warrior Platform equipment experience
- Dronebot experience booths (drone piloting, simulators, etc.)
- Food market
- Police and fire equipment experiences
Many drone festivals are watch-only events; this one relies on participation. The helicopter and armored vehicle rides alone are a rare opportunity, and the drone piloting and simulator booths offer a direct way to get involved for those without an aviation background.
Visitor Information
The event is free, though some experience-related activities may incur a fee. Temporary parking lots and shuttle buses will operate between Baekseok Sports Park and Yangju Arts Center and the event venue, and medical booths, portable toilets, and other convenience facilities will be available.
đź“Ť Address: 52 Samil-ro, Gwangjeok-myeon, Yangju-si, Gyeonggi-do
🛏️ Accommodations near the event
đź’° Fee: Free (Some experience-related activities may incur a fee)
đź“ž Inquiry: 031-8082-6161
🖥️ Website: https://www.yangju.go.kr/
The Ground Operations Command is a field command of the Republic of Korea Army, established in 2019 from the consolidation of the First and Third Field Armies. It commands ground combat units along the front-line region and is responsible for maintaining continuous readiness and responding to local provocations. The command’s structure integrates conventional infantry and armor with surveillance, unmanned aerial vehicle, and robotic assets.
The creation of the command was part of a reorganization of the Army’s upper command echelon, reducing the number of intermediate headquarters between the Army headquarters and front-line corps. Its area of responsibility covers the southern side of the Demilitarized Zone, where its units operate alongside the ROK-US Combined Forces Command and manage training, intelligence, and logistics support.
The Ground Operations Command is also involved in the Army’s wider effort to adopt unmanned systems and artificial intelligence. The Dronebot Festival, held in Yangju under the command’s patronage, is an annual public event in which the military and defense contractors demonstrate drones, robots, and related technology. For the general public, the festival offers a concrete view of equipment used in current operations; for defense professionals, it serves as a forum for examining how these systems are expected to change ground warfare.
